Chain fastener



J. E. MILLER.

CHAIN FASTENER.

APRLICATIOM FILED FEB. 18, 1922,

13;,435, l 2 Patel-wed Nov. 7, 1922i INVENTOR WITNESS: ATToRNEY Patented Nov. 7, i922.

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CHAIN resrnnnn.

Application vled February 18, 1922.'

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that l, JOHN MILLER, a citizen oi the United States, residingjat Ulean, in the county ot Cattaraugus and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Chain Fasteners, oic which the following is a specilication.

My present invention has reference to a means for fastening the end links of a chain.

My object is to produce a device of this character which shall be of an extremely simple construction, easily attached to the end links oi a chain, and automatically locked by an outward pull exerted by the chain.

A further object is to produce a means for locking the ends of chains that constitutes a body member formed of spaced plates having hooked portions at one end thereof, a pintle member being slidable through the plates adjacent to the other end of the body and to which pintle one of the end links of the chain is connected, while in the body there is pivotally secured a latch plate having a hook portion to cooperate with the hooks of the body to engage therebetween the opposite end link of the chain, said latch plate having a bayonet slot designed to be moved over the pintle, and the said pintle being designed to be 'forced into the longitudinal passage of the said slot when outward pressure exerted upon the chain, while in addition to this, removable means may be provided for locking the latch on the body.

rlhe foregoing objects, and others which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative association of parts, such as is disclosed by the drawings which accompany and which form part of this specification.

In the drawings Figure l is a perspective view or' the improvement showing a chain fastened thereon.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the device as illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 5 is a view showing the device in open position, parts being in section.

The body of my improvement comprises Serial No. 537,522.

two complementary plates l-fl. These plates are formed on one ot their edges, ad,- jacent one of their ends with enlargements that provide jaws 2. The plates, adjacent thereof opposite those Jformed with the jaws have somewhat elongated slots 3 therethrough, and through these aligning slots there is passed a pintle d. The pintle has both oi its ends headed and has secured thereto one of the end links of a chain 5, Swingingly secured between the body plates l, through the medium of a pivot 6 is a latch plate 7. The latch plate has one of its edges widened and rounded to form the same with a jaw 8, the bight or' the jaw being rounded outwardly, and the edo'e of the plate on which the jaw is formed tbeing rounded downwardly to the opening in the enlargement that forms the jaw. The jaw 8 is designed to cooperate with the jaws 2 of the body, it being' noted that the pivot 6 passes through the end of the latch plate adjacent the jaw The latch plate has its edge, opposite that formed with the jaw, and adjacent the end of the said plate opposite the said jaw, formed with a bayonet slot 9, the said slot designed to receive therein the pintle el, and when an outward pressure is exerted upon the chain 5 the pintle will be moved. outwardly on the body into the longitudinal passage ot the bayonet slot, thus holding the latch plate in locked position on the body. The opposite end link oi? the chain 5 is received between the jaws 2 and 8, and it will be apparent that with a construction above described the ends of the chain may be easily, quickly and effectively connected.

To more effectively hold the; in locked position on the body, I provide the body plates l and the latch plate with aligning apertures through which may be passed a holding element such as a cotter pin 12.

It is thought that the izoiegoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction and advantages of the improvement to those skilled in the art t0 which this invention relates and that further detailed description will not be required.

While l have illustrated the body of the improvement as constructed of two plates l-l, it is to be understood that the outer member or casing of the improvement may be formed from a single strip of suitable latch plate material bent and shaped toy provide spaced members, similarto the plates l-L f Having described the invention, I claim In a device for the purpose set forth, a body comprising lspaced plates having one of their edges adjacent one of theirV ends formed with similar jaws, a latch plate arranged between the body plates and pivoted thereto at the jaw end of the body, said latch plate having one of its edgesadjacent its pivoted end formed with a rounded jaw to Cooperate with the aws of the bodyV and to receive the link of a chain therebetween, said body plates having an aligning elongated slotl a pintle passing therethrough to which the second end link of the chain is connected, said latch plate having a bayonet slot designed to lreceive `therein the pintle and whereby an outward pressure on the chain will cause the pintle to move into the longitudinal passage of the said bayonet slot', and removable means passing through the body and latch plate for locking the latch plate to the body, i

In testimony Iwhereof` l allix my signature.` i

JOHN E. MILLER. 

